Grain boundary engineering that induces ultrahigh permittivity and decreased dielectric loss in CdCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

Dielectric materials with ultrahigh permittivity are attracting attention due to the increasing demand for these types of materials for microelectronics and energy storage applications. In this work, we successfully synthesized Zn-doped CdCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CdCTO) ceramics with low dielectric loss and large permittivity via an ordinary mixed-oxide technique. Remarkably, at a Zn doping level of 0.10, a CdCu_2.9Zn_0.1Ti₄O₁₂ ceramic exhibited both decreased dielectric loss tangent of ~0.058 and large dielectric permittivity > 4.0 × 10⁴, as well as a good frequency stability over a wide frequency range from 40 Hz to 10⁶ Hz. The high dielectric performance was attributed to the enhanced grain boundary resistance and internal barrier layer capacitor (IBLC) effect due to the fine and uniform grains that formed upon Zn doping. The findings reported in this work provide valuable insights into how to simultaneously realize a low dielectric loss and high permittivity in CdCTO and other related dielectric ceramics.     

双面板非金属孔内渗油研究

双面板非金属孔内渗油是PCB感光阻焊制程中最常见的品质缺陷之一。就双面板非金属孔内渗油的品质问题进行了研究,设计试验对各影响因素进行分析,确定双面板非金属孔内渗油的根本原因及改善方向。     

Advances in analysis of total uncertainties in a semi‐invasive residual stress measurement method

The ability to characterise residual stress distribution accurately and over different length scales, particularly deep into an engineering part, plays a significant role in assessing structural integrity. Two most commonly used techniques to measure residual stress fields deep into engineering components include neutron diffraction (ND) and deep‐hole drilling (DHD). As the measurements depend on several physical quantities, they are susceptible to error. The error or uncertainties may turn substantial and compromise the suitability of the results. Although noninvasive, the neutron diffraction technique is neither readily available nor portable and is limited to approximately 60‐mm‐thick specimen; errors associated with results become unacceptable at greater flight paths. Moreover, a mock‐up representing the engineering component is normally used in the ND technique. In contrast, the DHD technique is portable and measures residual stresses with high spatial resolution. An error propagation technique was applied to develop an error analysis procedure taking into consideration various stages of the DHD method and successfully applied to different DHD measurements. An essential feature comprising the effect of plasticity due to the creation of reference hole in the DHD procedure has not yet been taken into account in the error analysis procedure. This paper briefly describes how the uncertainties due to the creation of the initial reference hole can be determined. The effect of plasticity in the drilling procedure is quantified in this study. This error is combined with other sources of error and formulated to determine the total error. An incremental DHD technique was used to measure the complex triaxial residual stress field in an as‐welded circular disc, and the measured data were used to illustrate the total error using the error analysis method developed in the study.     

Nickel/Cobalt nanoparticles for electrochemical production of hydrogen

The electrolytic production of hydrogen (POH) from alkaline water electrolysis is at the forefront of technology for alternative energy sources of the future. The present work evaluates the improvement of electro-catalytic activity (ECA) on Ni electrodes for the POH by electrodeposition of cobalt (Co). Tests were conducted in alkaline solution and the ECA of Ni and Ni–Co electrodes for the POH were compared using alternative and direct current techniques. Tafel polarization tests exemplified a significant improvement in the ECA of the bimetallic electrode (Ni–Co) compared with the Ni-electrode. Besides, the bimetallic electrode required less input overpotential energy (η) for the given POH rate under constant current density. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed a significant increase in the number of electrochemical active sites and changed the surface morphology following the electrodeposition of Co over Ni electrodes.     

Investigation of Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-δ dispersed Sm1.5Sr0.5NiO4+δ: Cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell applications

Dispersion of nanocrystalline (94–350 nm) Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ in superfine (260–312 nm) Sm_1.5Sr_0.5NiO_4+δ using modified precipitation technique is established using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Presence of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ grains inhibits grain growth of Sm_1.5Sr_0.5NiO_4+δ, which provides morphological stability (up to 1100 °C). Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ concentration dependent behaviours of ionic conductivity, surface exchange rate and electrode polarization resistance (R_p) of composites (determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) are comprehended using percolation model. Three oxygen reduction reaction mechanisms are considered to understand electrochemical performance. Minimum R_p (0.81 Ω cm² at 700 °C) for 70Sm_1.5Sr_0.5NiO_4+δ:30Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ is correlated to percolation threshold (optimum (i) electrochemically active sites (ii) oxygen reduction reaction kinetics, (iii) O^2- conductivity and (iv) charge transfer rate). Nano crystallite size of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ is crucial for enhancement in electrochemical performance. Oxygen partial pressure dependent electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies reveal dominance of coexisting non-charge transfer oxygen adsorption/desorption and bulk O^2- diffusion.     

Squaraine Dyes for Photovoltaic and Biomedical Applications

Squaraine dyes (SQs) are an important class of polymethine dyes with a unique reasonable-stabilized zwitterionic structure, in which electrons are highly delocalized over the conjugated bridge. These dyes can not only be easily synthesized via a condensation, but also exhibit intense absorption and emission in the visible and near-infrared region with excellent photochemical stability, making them attractive material candidates for many photoelectric and biomedical applications. Thus, in this review, after an introduction of SQs, the recent advances of SQs in the photovoltaic field are comprehensively summarized including dye-sensitized solar cells, organic solar cells, and perovskite solar cells. Then, the important advances in the use of SQs as the biosensors, biological imaging, and photodynamic/photothermal therapy reagents in the biomedical field are also discussed. Finally, a summary and outlook will be provided with some new perspectives for the future design of SQs.     

分段中深孔采矿法切割槽及底部出矿结构设计优化

间柱采场用分段中深孔嗣后充填采矿法回采，为利用中深孔爆破形成切割槽及底部桃形体出矿结构，优化切割天井位置，以溜矿口上方的桃形体作为安全隔柱，利用溜矿口空间作为底部拉槽的凿岩和装药空间；采用平行中深孔和扇形中深孔相结合的方式进行布眼，爆破形成切割槽和底部桃形体出矿结构，避免了采用人工浅孔爆破施工的安全风险,切割槽爆破到位，底部桃形体出矿结构成型良好且稳固安全，该技术已在全矿推广应用。     

Dielectric properties of alumino-silicate ceramics synthesized by plasma sintering

The polycrystalline ceramic specimens of three different alumino-silicate solid solutions (Al_0.70Si_0.30O, Al_0.73Si_0.27O and Al_0.75Si_0.25O) consisting of different alumina and silica concentrations have been synthesized by thermal plasma sintering technique. From structural analysis carried out by X-ray diffraction, the ceramics are mostly found to consist of two different phases of mullite and sillimanite. SEM images of these ceramics reveal a high dense and less porous microstructure with homogeneous distribution of grains throughout their surface. These materials exhibit high dielectric constant value (>10³) with low dissipation factor. The AC conductivity analysis reveals that Al_0.70Si_0.30O and Al_0.75Si_0.25O ceramics possess room temperature conductivity values of the order of 10^?5, whereas Al_0.73Si_0.27O has conductivity of 10^?7 order that increases with rise in temperature. From the Nyquist plots, the grain and grain boundary conductivities are distinguished and negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior is identified in these ceramics with small positive temperature coefficient of resistance effect.     

Automated coronal hole segmentation from Solar EUV Images using the watershed transform

Region of interest segmentation in solar images is the subject of frequent research in solar physics. This study outlines watershed by immersion segmentation to identify coronal hole areas in solar images acquired using the Extreme UV Imaging Telescope (EIT). Solutions presented here produce highly accurate segmentation results of coronal holes of irregular shape, and what is more, they do so for images representing varied solar activity, recorded in different years and months. In addition, the solutions presented here make all the methods used operate very quickly. These methods include: the preprocessing step before the watershed segmentation, the watershed segmentation itself, and also the postprocessing of solar images after the watershed segmentation. The mean duration of the entire segmentation process of solar images amounts to 342 ms for a single coronal hole, without the parallel implementation of the methods used. The experiments were carried out on a computer with an Intel Core i7 CPU @ 2 GHz and 4 GB RAM. After the seed point is identified inside the coronal hole, the segmentation runs automatically.     

硅砖熔洞的成因

通过硅砖熔洞、铁斑在硅砖检验中的重要性的阐述,对生产过程中出现的一些硅砖熔洞进行原因排查,探讨了硅砖铁洞、钙洞的成因及应采取的预防措施。